Clock Striker, Volume 1: “I’m Gonna Be a SMITH!” by Issaka Galadima, et al

Information

Goodreads: I’m Gonna Be a SMITH!
Series: Clock Striker #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2023

Summary

The legendary Smiths, warriors who used technology in battle, are believed to be gone. But young Cast still dreams of joining their ranks–and receives the opportunity of a lifetime when one of last Smiths takes her on as an apprentice. Now Cast and her mentor Ms. Clock are embarked on a dangerous mission to protect lost Smith technology from falling into the wrong hands. But it is a mission that could be deadly.

Review

I do not read a lot of manga which makes it difficult for me, I suppose, to really comment on how well a particular manga works in comparison to other, respected works. My perspective is that of the casual reader, one who sometimes dips their toes into the ocean of this storytelling form, and who may or may not continue in farther, depending on the experience. My non-expert opinion, then, is that the first volume of Clock Striker feels fun and enthusiastic–but also a bit unoriginal. It plays up a lot of tropes that perhaps fans really relish. But I was hoping for something that felt more exciting.

I’m Gonna Be a SMITH! is a book for readers that enjoy the good old standbys– legendary artifacts, secret organizations, gangster-style villains, a Cinderella-esque rise from obscurity to influence, and lots of girl power. I often enjoy tropes myself, so none of this is necessarily a flaw. I was just hoping that it would all combine into something that still felt fresh, and with characters that I could really care about. Mostly, however, I remember what seems to be a sort of standard, superhero-esque origin story combined with lots of confusing fight scenes and an overuse of, “Haha! You thought a mere girl couldn’t beat you! Eat dirt, sexists!” triumphs. The messaging is a bit heavy-handed, even if it is a message many readers will enjoy.

This foray into manga did not particularly leave me wanting more. However, I can see it being very popular with tweens and teens, who might be newer to some of the tropes and undoubtedly excited for all the girl power moments. While I will not be reading book two, I would recommend the series to other fans of manga.

Saigami, Vol. 1: (Re)birth by Flame by Seny

Information

Goodreads: (Re)Birth by Flame
Series: Saigami #1
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2015, 2022

Summary

Ayumi is normal teenage girl until she finds herself in the world of Aesztrea, where people have dragons and some wield elemental powers. When Ayumi discovers she has the ability to wield fire, she decides to compete to become one of the elite Saigami warriors.

Review

Often, very standard books prove the most difficult to review. The first volume of Saigami feels very familiar. A teenage girl does not feel like she belongs–until she finds herself in a fantasy world, where she possesses the ability to control fire. Her father is shrouded in mystery and her powers are abnormally strong. But, to help her pass the test to become an official Saigami, she has the goofy boy-next-door and his handsome, broody friend. Basically, I’ve read this book before. Several times in fact. It was never going to impress me, even though it is solid. I think teens newer to this plotline will enjoy it more, though.

I admit I do not read much manga in general because a lot of the covers I see are, frankly, off-putting. I hear good things about some series, but I simply cannot take them seriously when the female characters all have gravity-defying watermelons for busts. I know some people argue that this is “empowering,” but when these characters are designed by men and appear to cater to the male gaze, it feels objectifying to me, not empowering. So I was relieved to see this cover, where the female protagonist looks rather normal. It seemed like a book I could read and maybe even recommend, without having to wonder about the dynamics of guiding people towards teen reads that objectify girls. That was genuinely encouraging for me. So, points for having a realistic-looking protagonist who is depicted as powerful and not as an object for the male gaze.

Ayumi’s personality is realistic, as well, and I think that could draw teen readers to the series. Though she is clearly being set up as a type of Chosen One, Ayumi is still new to this world and to her powers. Consequently, she can come across as annoying and whiny as she adjusts to the Saigami lifestyle. And, that’s fair. Many people who found themselves in a world they could not understand and then had to journey into the wild and learn how to camp and sleep on the hard ground for the first time would probably whine, too. Ayumi makes up for this by having a kind heart. I think readers will want to root for her.

The plot, as stated above, feels rather bland. The artwork I had trouble following; I had no idea what was supposed to be happening in the fight scenes, and had to rely on the dialogue to (hopefully) tell me. But I think teen readers will like the dragons and the fire scenes. There are also hints of mystery surrounding Ayumi’s past and a gesture towards some potential romance and some drama as Ayumi trains to become a Saigami. While this is not a standout for me, I do think teen readers will be more generous to the story and more excited about it.

Nine Liars by Maureen Johnson

Information

Goodreads: Nine Liars
Series: Truly Devious #5
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Summary

1n 1995, nine graduating Cambridge students travel to a country estate for a final farewell party. Two do not make it till morning. The police believe the dead students interrupted a burglary, but one of the survivors is not so sure. Fast forward a few decades, and teen sleuth Stevie Bell takes the case when one of the survivors goes missing.

Information

Nine Liars continues the story of Stevie Bell as she and her friends join her boyfriend David for a short study abroad in England. Though the draw of the story might be said to be the unsolved 1995 mystery David’s new friend Izzy puts before Stevie, the book gives equal weight to concerns such as Stevie and David’s troubled relationship, looming college applications, and a feeling of loss as the Stevie and the others head towards graduation and a parting of the ways. Personally, I found myself more interested in the cold case than Stevie’s continued relationship drama. But the culprit is obvious from the start, and Stevie proves strikingly clueless in solving this mystery, until the very end, when she magically pulls out some tangential evidence that would never hold up in court. The disappointing reveal of how it all went down, combined with Stevie and David’s excruciating on-and-off again relationship spell the end of my interest this series.

Though there are initially seven suspects for this case (which I personally think is too many characters to introduce at once–and Maureen Johnson seems to realize this since she utilizes a sort of dramatis personae as a shortcut to give readers their appearances and main traits), there are, sadly, only two viable suspects based on the evidence. This meant that I waited eagerly for the entire book, not to discover who had committed the crime, but why. The reveal is a major letdown and made me feel a bit miffed that I had read an entire book for such a halfhearted attempt at a motive.

Because there are only two main suspects, and because it is obvious that the 1995 case was not a burglary attempt, but a murder, it is absolutely baffling that Stevie struggles so long with this case. Readers know that nine people went to an isolated estate in 1995, and two were killed. One of the survivors says that she believes one of her friends killed the others. Then that survivor disappears. Stevie, for the bulk of the book, honestly seems not to consider at all that one of the other six is behind the modern-day disappearance. She even casually goes off to spend a day with them in the isolated estate, without ever raising the possibility that she has willingly hanging out with a potential murderer in a place no one can save her.

Why? I guess because she is more concerned about feeling jealousy over David’s new friend Izzy? As in the past few books, Stevie and David have to have complications in their relationship. I never really liked them as a couple, however, so I only felt annoyed and frustrated by Stevie’s imaginings. Most of their drama is not organic, but tailored just to keep the will-they, won’t-they plot going. It all feels especially misplaced here, where most of their scenes together are dedicated towards a big build-up of when they will get to sleep together, and then wham! Drama! Jealousy! Confusion! Spare me.

I keep waiting for this series to impress me because it seems so popular, but Stevie never really seems to do in-depth sleuthing or any remarkable detecting. And the relationship drama takes up as much space as the mystery, when I really just want the mystery. Book five ends with a cliffhanger, but to me it feels like this series should just end.

Shuna’s Journey by Hayao Miyazaki, Trans. by Alex Dudok de Wit

Information

Goodreads: Shuna’s Journey
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 1983; Translation 2022

Official Summary

From legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki comes a new manga classic about a prince on a quest for a golden grain that would save his land, never before published in English!

Shuna, the prince of a poor land, watches in despair as his people work themselves to death harvesting the little grain that grows there. And so, when a traveler presents him with a sample of seeds from a mysterious western land, he sets out to find the source of the golden grain, dreaming of a better life for his subjects.

It is not long before he meets a proud girl named Thea. After freeing her from captivity, he is pursued by her enemies, and while Thea escapes north, Shuna continues toward the west, finally reaching the Land of the God-Folk.

Will Shuna ever see Thea again? And will he make it back home from his quest for the golden grain?

Review

Two years before Studio Ghibli was founded, Hayao Miyazaki’s book Shuna’s Journey was released. Based on a Tibetan folktale, it follows Prince Shuna as he leaves his famine-stricken land to search for a fabled golden grain that can save his people. The trademarks of Miyazaki are all here–the epic scope, the flawed hero, the strong and determined heroine, and the beautiful artwork. Fans of Miyazaki will not want to miss out on another compelling story from the master storyteller!

Perhaps what intrigued me most about Shuna’s Journey was the sense of ambiguity it has. As with many of Miyazaki’s stories, much of the storytelling is actually left to the reader. Shuna travels across strange lands and encounters people both cruel and kind, but often what exactly is happening is never explained. Why do the city dwellers want to capture Shuna? What are the green giants? Are the gods still there? And, if so, are they good? Only the reader can decide.

The storytelling also does not fear to go its own way. Many stories on the market today seem similar to the point of being formulaic, but Miyazaki’s tale does not follow convention. If he wants to follow Shuna for most of the book, only to switch to another character’s perspective towards the end, he will! If he wants to upend the traditional way of fairy tales, he will do that, too. It is always pleasure to read something that feels original, and Miyazaki always delivers with his own unique vision.

Miyazaki fans will definitely want to check this one. The gorgeous water color artwork, especially the landscapes, are evocative, as always. And the story, strange and mysterious, is compelling, as always. This is a book that is more of an experience than a book.

Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater

Information

Goodreads: Greywaren
Series: Dreamer Trilogy #3
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Official Summary

This is the story of the Lynch family.

Niall and Mór escaped their homeland for a new start, and lost themselves in what they found.

Declan has grown up as the responsible son, the responsible brother–only to find there is no way for him to keep his family safe.

Ronan has always lived on the edge between dreams and waking… but now that edge is gone, and he is falling.

Matthew has been the happy child, the brightest beam. But rebellion beckons, because it all feels like an illusion now.

This world was not made for such a family–a family with the power to make a world and break it. If they cannot save each other or themselves, we are all doomed.

Review

Potential spoilers for the book below!

I have mixed feelings about Greywaren. While Call Down the Hawk and Mister Impossible blew me away with the sheer inventiveness of the worldbuilding, and the stakes of the drama, Greywaren meanders a bit though a futile attempt to give page time to its large ensemble cast, before devolving into a too-easy conclusion that makes the former two books feel irrelevant, and that fails to give readers much closure. I wanted to love Greywaren as much as I have loved the Raven Cycle and the first two books in the Dreamers Cycle, but I admit I closed the final pages feeling perplexed. The complexity and originality I have come to expect from Stiefvater do not seem fully there.

While many readers struggled to connect with some of the characters, or found themselves disappointed by an ensemble cast instead of a full focus on Ronan Lynch, I always greatly enjoyed all the characters and the chapters from their perspectives. Hennessy and Jordan fascinated me. Carmen seemed to have great potential as a do-gooder clearly working for the wrong side. Declan easily became my favorite, as he finally got the chance to tell his story and was not simply the villain in Ronan’s. And lovable Matthew grew in the telling, finally shedding some of his naivete as he was forced to reckon with reality. All of them were great. I was even vaguely intrigued about what role Adam would play in this saga, and if the Crying Club would become relevant. So I was left wondering why half the threads in the previous books seemed dropped. I was even left wondering why the threads in this book were dropped.

In the end, it seems like maybe too much was going on for Stiefvater to deal with it all, but that seems strange given her prior books. But I was left baffled that Adam basically disappeared from the narrative, after getting a set-up that seemed to suggest his scrying would play a prominent role in Ronan’s mission. The Crying Club was never relevant at all. Matthew was set up to do something remarkable, but didn’t. And then all the characters acted completely out of character just so things could wrap up neatly. Rebels become domesticated. People die so other people can end up together, even though they don’t make sense together. Even the characters from the Raven Cycle appear, ostensibly for Declan, even though they are Ronan’s friends and not Declan’s at all? I understand the desire to give readers closure by neatly pairing everyone off and making everyone seem happy, but this is not the way.

And the ending of the book just kind of makes the whole dilemma of the first two books…disappear. I thought interesting concepts were at play. How can dreamers survive in a world that is not built for them? Should they continue to fight the nightwash, or should Ronan awaken the ley lines? If Ronan does awaken the lines, what other horrors could occur if the dreams become too powerful to control? Just because no current dreamers have thought to dream something monstrous and world destroying does not mean no one could. What if that happens? What is the plan? Well…none of that matters, anymore, dear readers! Apparently Ronan is just going to toss the whole ley line idea because, well, I’m not sure. Yeah, Bryde is gone, but the problem isn’t. Essentially, this book says, Ronan went on this entire journey to figure out who Bryde is and to awaken the ley lines just to decide he doesn’t need to because he had some personal growth instead and he doesn’t really care anymore. Or something.

The book is not a complete letdown because I still love the characters and the world Stiefvater has created. However, it does seem clear that Stiefvater struggled with the ending. I was in awe with the complexity and imagination of the first two books in the series, but it all comes crashing down here, with the book not sure where to go with all the big ideas that were raised.

Cursed by Marissa Meyer

Information

Goodreads: Cursed
Series: Gilded #2
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2022

Official Summary

Before the Endless Moon, when the Erlking means to capture one of the seven gods and make a wish to return his lover, Perchta, from the underworld, Serilda and Gild attempt to break the curses that tether their spirits to Adalheid’s haunted castle. But it soon becomes clear that the Erlking’s hunger for vengeance won’t be satisfied with a single wish, and his true intentions have the power to alter the mortal realm forever. Serilda and Gild must try to thwart his wicked plans, all while solving the mystery of Gild’s forgotten name, freeing the ghosts kept in servitude to the dark ones, and trying to protect their unborn child.

Romance, danger, and Serilda’s journey to find her power as a woman, a mother, and a storyteller make this reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin one that Meyer fans—old and new—will treasure.

Review

Marissa Meyer has done it again! The sequel to Gilded brings readers on a breathtaking journey full of romance, mystery, suspense, and danger–one fans will find difficult to put down. The atmospheric worldbuilding and the intertwining of folklore and fantasy will draw readers in. But the empathetic characters and the high stakes they face will capture readers entirely. A must-read for fans of YA fantasy and fairy tale retellings!

Gilded ended on a dramatic cliffhanger, so I was only too eager to see where Meyer would take the story next. I loved that the narrative did not keep the characters safe, but repeatedly put them in untenable situations. The Erlking and his court are meant to be monsters, and it was imperative for the integrity of the story for this to be true. Fairy tales such as this are meant to be dark, meant to show that humans can persevere beyond all reasoning. And, maybe, just maybe, triumph. But that question of whether triumph is even possible anymore is the part that makes this story so gripping.

I also really loved that Serilda is a mother in this story. Motherhood is not often explored in YA books, even though it is a part of life and even something some teens might experience. Granted, I felt at times that Serilda read more like a young twenty-something than a teen, but readers do not need to only read books with protagonists exactly their age. And the motherhood element made this book feel more unique, as well as adding higher stakes to Serilda’s struggle for freedom.

Cursed is that rare thing, a sequel that lives up to its predecessor. More mythology, more intrigue, and more romance all come together to create an unputdownable read that will leave readers wishing for more. Fans of Meyer’s will not want to miss out on this stunning conclusion to the duology!

Gleanings: Stories from the Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman (and Co-authors)

Information

Goodreads: Gleanings
Series: Arc of a Scythe #4
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: Library
Published: November 8, 2022

Official Summary

The New York Times bestselling Arc of the Scythe series continues with thrilling stories that span the timeline. Storylines continue. Origin stories are revealed. And new Scythes emerge!

There are still countless tales of the Scythedom to tell. Centuries passed between the Thunderhead cradling humanity and Scythe Goddard trying to turn it upside down. For years humans lived in a world without hunger, disease, or death with Scythes as the living instruments of population control.

Neal Shusterman—along with collaborators David Yoon, Jarrod Shusterman, Sofía Lapuente, Michael H. Payne, Michelle Knowlden, and Joelle Shusterman—returns to the world throughout the timeline of the Arc of a Scythe series. Discover secrets and histories of characters you’ve followed for three volumes and meet new heroes, new foes, and some figures in between.

Gleanings shows just how expansive, terrifying, and thrilling the world that began with the Printz Honor–winning Scythe truly is.

Review

If anyone had asked me if a short story collection set in the world of Arc of a Scythe could live up to the original trilogy, with its complex characters, twisty plot, and thought-provoking questions about what it means to be human, I would have said no. And I would have been completely wrong. Gleanings sweeps readers back into the post-mortal world as if no time has been lost between book 3 and book 4, and I was riveted by nearly every page.

The Arc of a Scythe is immersive because looks unflinchingly at what it would mean for humans to “conquer death” — and really any unpleasantness, from pain to crime. No facet is left unexplored, from the effect this would have on the creation of art to the question of free will and the ethics of having an AI run the world. There are also, of course, the scythes, who do deal out death, having a power perhaps no one should have. Much of the book is about how such a community would play out, if it could stay true to its ideals.

And Gleanings goes right back into this. Some of the questions are the same that are explored in the original trilogy, but the angles and the answers feel new. After all, is there really a definitive answer to the question of, “Can art exist without pain?” What even is art? What counts as pain? Must fear of death be involved? And fear of death isn’t even completely gone because of the scythes. This book made me stop and think, and it made me feel, and it was wonderful.

It’s also at times humorous, which is great when you have a book called Gleanings where, you know, people are gleaned (coughkilledcough). Some of the scythes manage to be ridiculous or get themselves into ridiculous situations, which helps put in perspective that they are still human, no matter the power they have been given.

The only two stories I found disappointing were about Scythe Marie Curie, which is odd considering she’s such a striking character in the first three books, and these stories should have been marvelous gifts to fans who would like to see more about her. I felt the first had very little conflict/movement, and an event that should have been interesting simply fell flat. The second one will help tie up loose ends for fans, but also didn’t feel like much of an actual story.

You do need to have read the first three books to understand this book. I struggled a bit even though I have, and I think it’d be best enjoyed for people who have a fresh memory of the rest of the stories. Definitely one of my top reads of 2022 (though I posted my favorite YA books of 2022 list before I read this. Oops.).

The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Vol. 5: Lost in the Plot by Christopher Hastings, et al

Information

Goodreads: The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Vol. 5
Series: Unbelievable Gwenpool #5
Age Category: Young Adult/Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2018

Summary

Now that she has the ability to step out of her own comic, Gwen has realized that her run is coming to an end. But she has a plan. All she has to do is stop one of Marvel’s biggest baddies, and join the Avengers! She would never be cancelled if she were an Avenger! If only it were that easy…

Review

Gwenpool’s run comes to a heartbreaking end as Gwen realizes that her remaining issues are numbered. Initially, she attempts to convince the writers to keep her–first by planning to defeat Doctor Doom and become a member of the Avengers, and then by planning to become a villain. Ultimately, however, Gwen has to accept that only a few pages remain, and choose what she wants to do with them. While this final volume is not quite as meta as I had hoped after the last issue, it still features Gwen using her new powers in cool and innovative ways. And it brings out all the best, emotional parts of Gwen that made me ultimately love her as a character. I know that Gwenpool has made subsequent appearances in other comics, and I want to see her again!

Gwenpool started out as a destructive antihero, a girl from the real world who thought she could use the Marvel universe as her playground. The initial issues used this framework to create a charming and genuinely funny story–one where a teenager without any powers tried to use her extensive knowledge of comics to become a superhero. In the process, her comics interrogated the conventions of comics (often in a knowingly self-referential way), how readers respond to them, and how fiction and reality can intertwine. While Gwen gleefully mowed down characters in mass killing sprees, I found myself appalled by her actions. She figured it didn’t matter because they were just “extras” in a book. I saw her actions as morally horrific, even knowing she was in a book. Did Gwen’s actions matter? Why do I feel that they do?

All this culminated in Gwen learning how to shape the reality of the comic book world around her. Watching her reach out of the panel the first time was amazing! It became clear then that Gwenpool was not just going to be a fun little love letter to comics fans, one where Gwen called out the conventions of the genre and tried to use them to her advantage. Instead, Gwenpool become increasingly meta and increasingly innovative. I was genuinely excited to see where this would take Gwen next.

Of course, it took her to this, the final volume. And Gwen knows it’s the final volume! The emotional impact of this is extreme. Yes, it is funny to see Gwen attempt to defeat Doctor Doom, and then team up with Batroc one more time. And it is fun to see Gwen use her new powers to escape enemies and attempt to pull off heists. But readers know just as well as Gwen that time is running out, and that these fun adventures are the last. Even knowing, as Gwen must know, that superheroes never die forever, and that a reboot or a cameo must be in the future, the heartache is real. Because this is the end of this iteration as we knew her. As a girl who lost her way, and then found herself again. And who lived the joy of comics the whole time.

Volumes 2 and 3 were, for me, the weakest of the five. But the first volume, along with the final two in this run, really make the series worth reading as a whole. Gwenpool is an amazingly original character, one whose stories are, by turns, funny, heartwarming, and heartrending. What a fantastic addition to the Marvel line-up! I really hope we see a lot more of Gwenpool!

All That It Ever Meant by Blessing Musariri (ARC Review)

Information

Goodreads: All That It Ever Meant
Series: None
Age Category: Young Adult
Source: ARC from Publisher
Expected Publication: January 3, 2023

Official Summary

Mati’s family is reeling from the death of Mati’s mother. Her Baba has drawn into himself, her sister Chichi is rebelling, and her young brother Tana is desperate for love and normalcy.

When Chichi pulls her worst stunt yet, Baba uproots the family from their home in England for an extended camping holiday in their native Zimbabwe. Along for the trip is Meticais, a fabulously attired gender-neutral spirit—or ghost? or imaginary friend?—who only Mati can see and converse with.

Guided by Meticais’s enigmatic advice and wisdom, Mati must come to terms with her grief and with the difficulty of living between two cultures, while the family must learn to forge their way in a world without their monumental mother.

Full of captivating characters and stunning plot twists, All That It Ever Meant delivers a nuanced and unforgettable story of grief, love, and family.

Review

I will be the first to admit that this genre is not quite the right fit for me.  In general, even when I can tell that a book is sensitively written and that it is trying to convey deep thoughts, I do not enjoy reading a story that centers primarily around a person processing grief.  I do not mind a character-driven story, well told, but this particular type–the sad protagonist telling their story because only by confronting what happened can they move on–is not my favorite, even though I know it is an important type of story and likely resonates with many readers.  So I would recommend this one to the readers who like what I have heard called “sad girl stories,” or stories that are told non-linearly because the journey is considered more important than the destination..    

In All It Ever Meant, the first person narrator Mati takes a roundabout route to explain the aftermath of her mother’s death and what it means for her family.  Readers are supposed to be hooked because Mati does not come straight out and say what happened, but instead leaves tantalizing clues about fights that happened, notes that were left, etc. before moving on to a different part of the timeline.  An unknown presence, a gender-neutral spirit or ghost or something called Metacais, is also meant to add to the drama.  Who are they? Where did they come from? Why are they there?  Is it bad to say I did not really care who Metacais is? I thought they were largely unnecessary to what the book in general is doing with Mati’s processing of grief, and they really did just seem like one of those things an author adds to put a spin on a common enough story or theme.

For me, the highlights were Mati’s observations of Zimbabwe.  For most of the story, Mati declines to talk about herself directly or to acknowledge her role in her family and their drama.  But readers can piece together some aspects of Mati’s personality from her observations about other people, as well as her thoughts on visiting Zimbabwe.  Mati does discuss the feeling of not always fitting in, her family caught between Zimbabwe and England.  But she clearly loves Zimbabwe!  Or, at least many parts of it.  And it feels like an honor to go on a trip through the country with her and her family, seeing it through her eyes.

Blessing Musariri can also turn a phrase, and, through Mati, gives some observations about love, life, family, identity, and grief that I think many readers–especially teen readers–will find powerful and resonant.  Not everything Mati says is as profound as I think she thinks it is–but she does periodically really find a way to describe something in a way that will make readers pick it up and look at it anew.  I imagine this book will speak to many readers in particular who are in the process of figuring out who they are and what they want from life.

This particular genre and story is again, not really for me.  I did not find myself gripped by Mati’s evasive storytelling.  And I was unimpressed by the final reveal of what had really happened because, well, it is not that original!  But the narrative voice is original and seeing the world through Mati’s eyes is compelling.  Pick this one up if you like books that explore grief after the death of a loved one.

The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Vol. 4: Beyond the Fourth Wall by Christopher Hastings & Gurihiru

Information

Goodreads: The Unbelievable Gwenpool, Vol. 4
Series: Unbelievable Gwenpool #4
Age Category: Young Adult/Adult
Source: Library
Published: 2018

Summary

Gwen Poole’s origin story is revealed in the fourth volume of The Unbelievable Gwenpool. But, wait! There are those who want to see Gwen returned to the “real” world before she can destroy the Marvel Universe. And Gwen is not about to go quietly.

The fourth volume of The Unbelievable Gwenpool brings back all the elements that make Gwenpool great–and brings the series to the next level! As a superhero team seeks to return Gwen to the real world, so she cannot turn into a future villain, Gwen discovers that her knowledge that she is in a comic gives her more than insider info on her fellow characters. It allows her to manipulate the comic itself! The sheer inventiveness of this installment, along with Gwen’s character development, make Volume 4 a delight to read. I cannot wait to see what new adventures Gwen will have!

The key to Gwenpool’s appeal lies largely in how meta her comic is, and I was pleased to see that this new installment really chooses to lean into that. Previous storylines featured Gwen using her knowledge of the Marvel comics to probe characters’ weaknesses or try to get herself invited to a superhero team-up. And it was funny! Especially to comics fans who know all the references Gwen does. However, volume four has Gwen going beyond fun allusions to potential comics-world domination, all thanks to her ability to use her knowledge to change the very comic she is in.

I cannot stress enough how amazingly inventive Gwenpool feels in this volume. Her powers progress from simple character knowledge to the ability to shape reality. Gwen manages to step outside of the panels. She can see the comic she is in! She can enter the gutters. She can view the past, and the future. Wow! This is exactly what I want from a character able to break the fourth wall! And the art! Gurihiru take these plot developments and get creative. The illustrations are just as ingenious as the story.

But it’s not all flashy art and superpowers. Gwen really faces her herself in this comic. She sees herself how others see her–not as a superhero, but as a girl who has callously mown down dozens upon dozens of people because she thinks of them as “extras” and not as a real people. And she has to choose if she wants to continue down that path. If she wants to one day really become the villain. I honestly was not expecting Gwen to have as much maturity and growth as she did–especially when readers learn her origin story (which is not particularly flattering). This is the comic where I really, truly got to root for Gwen and not feel conflicted.

Too bad this is the fourth volume in a five-volume run. Is this the end for Gwenpool? And, of course, if it is, how will Gwen herself feel about it?! This is a refreshingly original volume that brilliantly sets up a future storyline sure to tug at the heartstrings. Time to dive into volume five!